Notes on the Life of Howard Staunton

Notes on the Life of Howard Staunton by John Townsend (Self Published 2011). hb. p193. Limited edition 100 copies. www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk. A privately printed history of the life of the Nineteenth Century’s top player, pre-Blackburne and Burn. Staunton had the basic playing-pieces named after him, set-up London 1851, wrote columns, made enemies, pioneered instruction in his oft reprinted Handbook. Hundreds of his games have come down to us. Keene/Coles wrote the BCM book on HS. Less is known about his actual life, especially privately, in the theatre, his work for chess clubs, his standard of living. I suppose I mean ‘the inner man.’ No game scores here but fine prose. We hope to get John S Hilbert to review this fine book over the summer. James Pratt